Hand Embroidered Flour Sack Dish Towel?

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01-24-2016, 11:12 AM

#21

JanieH

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Houston, TX

Posts: 7,312

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltsRfun

My mother did a lot of embroidery. She didn't put anything on the back of her dish towels. But she always told me the back should look as good as the front and hers did. Somehow she hid her knots and she never carried colors across. I didn't have the patience or the skill.

This is how I was taught to embroider, and my mother told me the same thing - the back should look as good as the front. Now, even if I am embroidering something where I know the back won't show, I work to keep it neat.

01-24-2016, 12:08 PM

#22

carolynjo

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 6,430

I did them years ago and I never covered the back. I hid the knots and did not carry them over any distance. d

01-24-2016, 04:45 PM

#23

lynnie

Power Poster

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Long Island

Posts: 24,820

thanks coopah on the pictures. I try to keep my backs like yours too.
I was just wondering if there was another way, but I guess it's ok for
the back to show. Now everyone here can go and emb some towels. thanks.

01-25-2016, 06:17 AM

#24

coopah

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: Horse Country, FL

Posts: 7,341

Confession: This towel was stitched by my great-grandmother in her late 80's. Even though it is full of holes and unusable, I can't get rid of it. I have other embroideries, but we were talking about towels, so that's what I photographed.
It's good to see hand embroidery making a comeback.
P.S. Thanks for the compliments. AZ Jane, come to FL and I'll teach you! My suspicion is that you are awesome without any help.

01-25-2016, 06:34 AM

#25

maryfrang

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: El Lago Tx Originally from Upstate NY

Posts: 654

I have made at least three or four sets. I was surprised but the stitches did not take away from the towels. Just remember do NOT run stiches on the back over large areas.

01-25-2016, 07:30 AM

#26

Beachbaby12

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Florida

Posts: 748

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandra in Minnesota

I agree. My mother taught me to embroider, and my grandmother taught her. Neither of them put anything on the back to hide the stitching. Just make it look neat on the back. Have fun ---- don't worry about it. The embroidery police don't come around very often.

I agree - I also learned the same way to embroider as Sandra in Minnesota. Have fun and enjoy!

01-25-2016, 08:12 PM

#27

selm

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Massachusetts

Posts: 1,091

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynnie

so it doesn't matter if stitches show on the back?
I know that it should look nice on the back, but if if the thread is used in more than one spot? Do you carry it over or do you knot and start over in another spot? I too want to emb some towels and am wondering about this also. Does anyone have a picture of the back of a tea towel they can show us how it looks?

I took an embroidery class many years and was taught not to carry colors across to a new starting point but to secure stitches and start over in new spot. Doing this makes the back as neat as the front.

01-26-2016, 03:30 AM

#28

QltrSue

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: NH

Posts: 645

As I see it, a tea towel is a utility item and as such, can be more casual than an item made for show or competition. Embroidering as neatly as possible is good, but I wouldn't worry too much about the back side. I LOVE hand embroidery and have many items from my sister, who does a neat job, but no covering on the back. I always fold them with the finished side out and hang them that way, too. So, to me, it the back really doesn't matter.

02-06-2016, 09:27 AM

#29

craftymatt2

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Illinois

Posts: 3,915

I love this board, thank you so much for all the tips and pics, i was taught to embroider by my 5th grade teacher, and have always loved to do it, have lots of flour sack towels and thread, and lots of surgeries so will be doing lots of these. thank you again